Best Smart Glasses: Take A New Look
Smart glasses might not have taken off just yet, and maybe that’s down to the failure of Google Glass. But with the rise of augmented reality technology, there hasn’t been a better time to start looking for the best smart glasses.
Best Smart Glasses
Epson Moverio
They worked excellently for flying drones. The clear screen allows you to keep track of drone.
 Amazon.com | $1,900.00 1 new from $1,900.00 1 used from $648.00 | Buy Now |
 Ebay.com | $812.83 out of stock | Buy Now |
Best Everyday Smart Glasses
Bose Alto
The Bose Alto range felt like a set of smart glasses you could use every day.
| Amazon.com | $199.00 1 new from $199.00 11 used from $124.99 | Buy Now |
| Ebay.com | $169.99 out of stock | Buy Now |
Best Budget Smart Glasses
Vufine VUF-110
A great and very versatile Smart glasses, but the best bit was the cheap price.
| Amazon.com | $190.38 2 new from $190.00 3 used from $136.49 | Buy Now |
The Buyers Guide To Smart Glasses
Some Smart Glasses will provide a virtual screen while reaming to see the real world.
As smart glasses get smarter, we can only see them becoming the new necessity.
Before purchasing a set of smart glasses, there are a few things I like to think about. Take a look below it will help push you in the right direction:
Price
It's the first thing I look at every time; it gives you a good idea of what to expect from the products.
Camera
Some people like using smart glasses for recording instructional videos. Checking the quality of the camera will ensure beautifully clean images.
Drone Compatible
Drone Flying has become a hobby for many people. And now smart glasses can help take fantastic aerial footage.
Size
Everyone's head is a different size, which is why checking the size of the smart glasses is so important.
Screen
If your looking to watch streaming services on the move, then a screen is a necessity. Make sure you check the dimensions.
Warranty
Checking the warranty might not seem that important, but it is, make sure you check you are covered.
Table of Contents
The Best Smart Glasses
If you need a little help finding yourself a set of smart glasses, then I’m here to help you. Here’s a list of some of the most popular smart glasses available today:
| Epson Moverio | Bose Alto | Vufine VUF-110 | WISEUP | Vuzix Blade AR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size (Inches) | 7.52″ x 7.01″ x 0.98″ | 6.06″ x 5.6″ x 0.06″ | 3.8″ x 0.8″ x 0.6″ | 5.5″ width | 6.2″ x 3.75-7.25″ x 0.88″ |
| Camera | 1080p | N/A | No | 1080p | 1080p |
| Screen | 40″ at 2.5 m | N/A | 4″at 12″ | N/A | 32″at 8 ft |
| Drone Compatible | Yes | N/A | Yes | N/A | Yes |
| Warranty | 1-Year warranty (US/Canada only) | 1-Year | 90-Day | 1-Year | 1-Year |
| Buy | Find Best Price | Find Best Price | Find Best Price | Find Best Price | Find Best Price |
#1 – Epson Moverio BT-300
Best Smart Glasses
| Amazon.com | $1,900.00 1 new from $1,900.00 1 used from $648.00 | Buy Now |
| Ebay.com | $812.83 out of stock | Buy Now |
The Epson Moverio was built for drone flying. The transparent display allows you to see flight statistics while keeping a clear view of the drone.
Even the controller comes with the DJI Go app preloaded on to the device. To find more compatible accessories check out the Moverio app.
The smart glasses have a screen equivalent to 40″ at 2.5 m away, which is exceptionally large.
The dual 720p HD displays capable of seeing an object in 3D, all while remaining fully transparent.
Their smart glasses also feature low latency motion sensors to help enhance your field of view.
Epson moverio smart glasses claim to be the “Worlds lightest” at 2.5 oz. To help you control the smart glasses, it comes with 5.1 based controller.
To connect the device, you can use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology, one thing we should note is they can only be used in the US and Canada.
Key Features
- Dual 720p displays
- 3D capable
- DJI app compatible
- Screen size: 40" at 2.5 meters
- Weight: 2.5 oz
- Front facing 1080p camera
- Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connectivity
- 5.1 controller
What Other People Say
The glasses took some getting used to, but unlike VR glasses, you don’t need a second person to keep an eye on the drone. Another person said it was the greatest gadget they had brought for there drone; it allowed them to enjoy every aspect of the hobby.
One person was having trouble with adjusting the lenses to his eyes; it meant seeing the screen was challenging. Another customer was having similar difficulties; their eyes were too wide for the smart glasses. This made gaining focus on both sides was very difficult.
Final Verdict
It was an excellent device for flying drones; it enabled you to keep track of your drone while capturing beautiful aerial pictures. One issue was over sensitivity of the controller, which made entering information overly tricky. I can understand people’s frustration with glasses’ inability to adjust.
Luckily they worked perfectly for me; the image was great but took time getting used too. Another downside was the lack of compatible apps. Fortunately, you could use Netflix and Amazon Prime.
What We Liked
- Crisp screen resolution
- Lightweight
- Dual 720p HD display
What We Didn’t Like
- Unadjustable
#2 – Bose Alto
Best Everyday Smart Glasses
| Amazon.com | $199.00 1 new from $199.00 11 used from $124.99 | Buy Now |
| Ebay.com | $169.99 out of stock | Buy Now |
The Bose Alto smart glasses come in two different sizes to suit your head shape.
Inside their smart glasses, they have built-in Bose speakers that provide a crisp and immersive sound.
Designed to produce open-ear audio; it allows you to stay aware of things around you, while people next to hear nothing.
That’s not the only feature, they’ve also integrated a microphone for making receiving phone calls, and accessing your smart assistant.
You pair to the smart glasses with Bluetooth, and by using the Bose app. From there you can also create your own settings to suit your needs.
Use the app to enable the Bose AR (Audio version of augmented reality), which partners with several app partners to bring a whole new listening experience.
They claim the lenses can block 99% of UVA/UVB rays while keeping a battery life of 3.5 hours. To charge the smart sunglasses, it takes around two hours. The range of the Bluetooth device 30 ft, and is compatible with iOS 9.0 or Android 5.0.
Key Features
- Built-in speakers
- Open-ear audio
- Bluetooth
- Size: Lens Width: 52 mm | Bridge Width: 18 mm | Temple Length: 162 mm
- Blocks 99% of UVA rays
- Bose App
- Set personal setting
- Built-in microphone
What Other People Say
Everyone seemed very pleased with the audio quality; it was far better than expected. They also mentioned that the frames were charming, and there were no complaints with the build quality. One downside was it didn’t automatically connect to there Bluetooth.
Another customer loved the sound quality; they said: “Keeping the volume on 60% meant no one around could hear it.” People did feel let down over the bass but admitted the speaker could be heard clearly. They also felt a charging case would be an excellent option for there next version.
Final Verdict
They’re a great pair of smart glasses with excellent build quality. As the speaker goes, they’re super clear, but as other people said, they don’t have much bass to them. This is probably for the best; at full volume, the speakers are very loud and can be heard by people around you.
The battery life was surprisingly good; if you listened to music at a reasonable level, you could easily get 3-4 hours of playback time. Overall, a beautiful and straightforward set of smart glasses that can be used every day.
What We Liked
- Bose AR apps
- Crisp sound
- Nice battery life
What We Didn’t Like
- No bass
- Doesn't auto connect
#3 – Vufine VUF-110
Best Budget Smart Glasses
| Amazon.com | $190.38 2 new from $190.00 3 used from $136.49 | Buy Now |
The Vufine is designed to fit on nearly any glasses, which makes them far more versatile than other smart glasses.
They clip on using a magnetic docking station easily attaches to your glasses when you need it, which is fully adjustable to suit your viewing needs.
The smart glasses can be connected to laptops, tablets, mobiles, and more. This way you never run out of connection possibilities.
Its design is to provide you with an HD virtual screen with clear video and text. Which can come as a bit of a surprise considering the small size.
It’s compatible with most HDMI 720p outputs. It provides you with a 4″ HD screen 12″ away from the eye. And the bet bit is, the image is clear.
Now you don’t have to worry about packing your second screen; you can just put it in your pocket.
The battery can last around 90 minutes before it will need charging again. To charge the device, you can use the 5V micro USB cable that comes with the device.
Key Features
- Fits any glasses
- Compatible 720p output
- 90-Minute battery life
- 4” HD screen
- Docks magnetically
- Drone, laptop and mobile ready
- Fully adjustable
- Portable
What Other People Say
3D programmers and printers loved this device; it worked excellently; it saved them so much time looking at there references. Others said it worked great as a second monitor for work. They didn’t have to worry about packing a big bulk screen with them.
Some people did have complaints about the magnetic clip; it did hold as well as they expected. Keeping the focus was extremely difficult. But it made up for itself with how much easier it made recording videos, you didn’t have to twist your self in extraordinary positions.
Final Verdict
For me, the biggest downside was the lack of wireless technology, which meant there were always cables running around your face. It wasn’t too bad for flying drones either; plug it into the controller to mirror the monitor. Another significant factor was that they could attach to any glasses.
Overall the there were nice and lightweight, but they did struggle to stay connected on other glasses. The display was very clear and showed no signs of being any different.
What We Liked
- Lightweight
- Turns any smart glasses in to glasses
- Clear picture
What We Didn’t Like
- No wireless capabilities
- Can be hard to keep in position
#4 – Hereta
| Amazon.com | $57.59 2 new from $57.59 | Buy Now |
Their spy glasses have a discreetly hidden camera in the center of the glasses, which supports 1080p video recording functionality.
The built-in pinhole camera records at 30 fps into an AVI video format. From the opening in the hinge, you can remove the SD card.
If you find yourself running out of footage space, you can add a 32 GB SD card for extra storage space.
Their smart glasses last for 80 minutes while continually recording and only takes one hour to receive a full charge.
It charges using a USB cable for your convenience which takes around 90 minutes to reach a full charge.
When in recording mode, the camera will pick up a field of view of 78°, allowing you to capture everything you’re looking at.
Key Features
- 3.7 mm pinhole lens
- Timestamp
- 1080p HD recording
- Recording time: 80 minutes
- Charging time: 1.5-hour
- Field of view: 78°
- Records 30 fps
- USB charging
What Other People Say
Most people were happy with how well the device worked, and how good the range of view was. They also liked to mention that the camera is very well hidden; both sides looked identical. One complaint was with the arms of the smart glasses; they were very fat.
Another customer mentioned that image and audio remained crisp but felt the SD card wasn’t fast enough to do the camera real justice.
That wasn’t the only complaint. The camera doesn’t contain a gyroscope, which ended up with users having shaky images when recording on the move.
Final Verdict
They’re an excellent idea, but I certainly wouldn’t use the smart glasses for espionage work. The glasses frames look cheaply made and are very chunky. The field of view was pretty nice, and the camera quality was excellent. They’d be the perfect glasses for recording videos such as laptop repair.
Overall a nice set of smart glasses, but not quite there. To make the product pop, it would be nice to see a gyroscope added to its design. An extra camera wouldn’t go amiss either; it would significantly increase your field of view while recording.
What We Liked
- Small camera
- Good video and audio quality
- Hidden SD card
What We Didn’t Like
- No gyroscope
- Bulky arms
#5 – Vuzix Blade AR
| Amazon.com | out of stock | Buy Now |
The Vuzix Blade AR weighs 3.36 oz, so they’re on the heavy side. The smart glasses support video playback from providers such as Netflix and Amazon.
The sunglasses project a screen which is the equivalent to a 32″ screen at the distance of 8 ft.
Use the Vuzix app to download web browsers, social media, video platforms, and streaming services straight on to your smart glasses.
When watching, you can enjoy a full-color display, while keeping the ability to see things going on around you.
Alexa comes built into the smart device, which enables you to book Ubers, set timers, and create lists. And the list of features doesn’t stop there, at the front you’ll find an eight mp HD camera and noise-canceling mics.
Now you can catch all the important moments in like with your glasses. It’s even compatible with the DJI app, and enables you to what your drone sees, while never taking your eyes off it.
Key Features
- Amazon and Netflix streaming
- Compatible with the DJI drone app
- 2-hour video playback battery life
- Built-in Alexa
- Voice command navigation
- Full-color display in the right eye
- Multiple compatible apps
- Noise-canceling microphone
What Other People Say
One customer claimed that the smart glasses fit comfortably and had great battery life, but it did feel heavy on the nose after a while. They also loved the amount of the app they could tap into, it gave the users plenty of viewing options.
Another customer said it made flying drones so much easier, but it did take some getting used to. They also loved its Alexa integration; it made navigation easier by using voice commands. Other people felt the glasses were too bulky and not stylish enough to go out in.
Final Verdict
The product was very nice; the screen was excellently at performing its job. Although it can take a while to get used to focusing on the images. It had plenty of features to get stuck into. My favorite was the DJI app integration, it was perfect for flying drones.
Navigating was easy and was made even easier by using Alexa voice commands. On the downside, it was pretty bulky and felt heavy on the head. Finally, if you’re using an SD card larger than 32GB, it will need reformatting before you can use it.
What We Liked
- Perfect for drone flying
- Easy Navigate
- Nice screen
What We Didn’t Like
- Bulky
- Can cause nausea
But These Are The Best Smart Glasses For Most People
For me, the best smart glasses had to be the Epson Moverio. They provide users with an exceptional 720p dual HD screen.
The picture quality and size was unrivaled to any other device. It was also easy to use and set-up, and that was made even easier with the 5.1 controllers, which helped you to navigate.
The smart glasses felt nice on the face, due to their lightweight design, you could hardly feel yourself wearing them. And let’s get to my favorite part, drone flying.
It made flying drones so much easier and enabled you to get some stunning shots from the drone. Another nice feature was watching Netflix on the move while still being able to stay aware of your surroundings.
The smart glasses only let down in my eyes was not being able to adjust the screen; it proved to be a nightmare for people with wider eyes.
For more smart accessories, check out this list of the best WiFi speakers!
Frequently Asked Questions
If your still not sure about what the best smart glasses can do, then don’t worry. Here are some of the questions I get asked the most:
Google Glass was the public first look at smart glasses, but what can they do? Smart glasses can perform a multitude of tasks for the user. Some of which could be merely recording your day to day life, other features include:
- Video playback
- Linking with virtual assistants
- Recording
- Making/receiving phone calls
- Giving directions
- Flying drone
- And lot more
AR glasses (augmented reality) allow you to transform reality by adding objects, colors, and images. In essence, AR is similar to virtual reality, except it uses the real world instead of a digital one.
We all heard the hype around Google Glass. Which is why it came as so much of a surprise that it failed. Unfortunately, Google deiced to run with the hype.
This meant the Google Glass didn’t clearly define what it could provide the user. For a more in-depth look check this out.